CHALLENGE-DAYTONA® – Let the showdown begin
In the complex world of triathlon 2020, a galaxy of elite triathlete stars will assemble on Sunday December 6th. At the centre of it is CHALLENGEDAYTONA® the only 2020 world championship for triathlete’s longer than Sprint and Olympic distances.” This race promises to be the “Principia Mathematica Philosophiae Naturalis.” of 2020, with all three triathlon disciplines performing an interactive ‘Newton’ dance between forces and inertial motion managed by the triathletes. Each triathlete tuning up the mechanics of movement with a touch of aerodynamics and all attempting to defy Newtons law of physics: trying to push harder and be faster than the other.
The “Daytona” part is important: Florida’s ‘covid-19’ restriction on athletic events are relatively minor compared to other States in the Country. All of this puts many athletes in a conflicted position: taking part in the race could be good for them professionally and financially, but it may also increase their risk of contracting ‘covid-19’. It’s a difficult decision for many, in the midst of a year that’s abounded with them. While some of the top triathletes have pulled out due to injury or Olympic preparation and other reasons, the line-up for the PTO world championship is still impressive.
Full line up listing here: Start List
The showdown promises to be unmissable and will play out in front of a global audience as the best meet the best on the biggest stage of all. The reward: one of the biggest prize purses the sport has ever seen: $1.15 million. Full breakdown here: Prize Purse.
Athletes from both long and short course backgrounds will battle it out for the PTO world championship across a 2km swim, 80km bike and 18km run. Of British interest will be the seventeen athletes from Great Britain competing in the two pro races.
Among the ten British women to be taking to the course will be winner of Ironman Florida in November, Katrina Matthews; silver medallist in the pro races at Outlaw X and Helvellyn this year, Nikki Bartlett; and double Commonwealth gold medallist, Jodie Stimpson and recent guest on the TriNation Podcast: Ruth Astle who finished fourth in Ironman Floria and posted a new bike course record.
TriNation Podcast Guest: Ruth Astle
Two-time Olympic gold medallist, Alistair Brownlee; former World Triathlon world champion and double Olympic medallist, Jonathan Brownlee; and winner of Outlaw X 2020, George Goodwin will race alongside four other British men, Big shout out to me old training partner Kieran Lindars who enters the race on a Special CHALLENGE invite and has a triathlon pedigree background to make an impact – good luck mate!
As well as the Brits, the field will boast international athletes including 2019 Ironman World Champion, Anne Haug and London 2012 gold medalist, Nicola Spirig; four-time World Triathlon world champion, Javier Gomez and current double world champion, Vincent Luis.
Editors Dark Horses:
In the women’s category: Lisa Norden professional Swedish triathlete, 2012 Olympic silver medalist, and 2008 and 2016 Olympian. She is also the winner of the 2012 Triathlon World Series. Probably immortalised for her part in the “million to one odds” of an Olympic women’s triathlon race ending in a photo finish in 2012, Lisa went on to become the Swedish national cycling time trial champion 2018, and the Swedish national road cycling champion 2019. The Daytona course with its 80-km flat cycling route just might work in Lisa Norden favour.
In the men’s category is wild card entry: Norwegian Gustav Iden who competes within the ITU World Triathlon Series and is a three-time winner of ITU Triathlon World Cups. But it is his performance and win in the 70:3 Ironman World Championships in Nice 2019 becoming the youngest Ironman 70.3 world champion ever, at just 23 years old, is where we take note. Gustav is athletic having won the junior nationals in cross-country running and 2000-meter steeple chase and is a talented cyclist having made many podiums. Entering into triathlon from road cycling, his technical skills on the bike can match the best. While comparing run times in different 70.3 is not a great comparison, his 1:07:13 run split in Bahrain in 2018, where he came second is only matched by two others in the history of triathlon, Kristian Blummenfelt, and Jan Frodeno, both who have withdrawn from Daytona. Gustav Iden has been hidden in the shadows of the more famed triathletes but this may be the right occasion for him to shine.
BROADCAST SCHEDULE
The PTO Championship will be broadcast LIVE and on-demand via PTO LIVE and select broadcast platforms around the world. Sign up to watch.
Daytona race times displayed are on Eastern Standard Time, please see further below for conversions to other time zones
Race Day: Sunday – Dec 06 2020
9:30am – 10:00am – Pre-Race: Live build up before the race kicks off.
10:00am – 2:00pm – Womens Race. Tune in live to watch the unprecendent women field and who is to be crowned the winner.
2:00pm – 6:00pm – Mens Race: Watch the greatest mens field ever assembled battle it out for their place in history.
Please Note:
Daytona is on Eastern Standard Time. Here are the conversions to other time zones including the UK:
- + 14 hours: Melbourne (AEDT), races start on Monday at 2am and 6am
- +5 hours: United Kingdom (GMT), races start at 3pm and 7pm
- + 6 hours: Central Europe (CET), races start at 4pm and 8 pm
- +/- 0 hours: US East Coast (EST), races start at 10am and and 2pm
- – 3 hours: US West Coast (PST), races start at 7am and 11 am
